OBITUARY AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR PETERBOROUGH FIREFIGHTER JIM GRANT

Charles James "JIM" Grant The town of Peterborough has lost its biggest cheerleader.

On July 26, 2016, Jim Grant, educator, father, grandfather, husband, and humanitarian lost his 5- month battle against mesothelioma, an incurable disease caused by a simple asbestos fiber he inhaled sometime in the past 50 years.

Jim was born in Peterborough on January 26, 1942, son of Marjorie (Dolan) Grant and Bertrice H. Grant. He leaves his wife of 52 years, Lillian (Bull) Grant, son Nathan H. Grant of Peterborough, Caleb A. Grant and wife Annelise of Newburyport, Mass. Beloved grandchildren are Cooper and Bowden Grant and Alaina Marie Morano-Grant of Connecticut. Jean (Grant) Bergeron of Jaffrey is his surviving sibling.He is also survived by his mother-in-law Avis Bull formerly of Stoddard. He adored his nieces and nephews and their children. He loved his cat Freddy also.

He is predeceased by his brother John Grant and infant granddaughter Laura Louise Morano-Grant.

Jim graduated from Peterborough High School and Keene State College with a B.Ed; he furthered his education at Antioch with his M.Ed. He was bestowed an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Franklin Pierce College in Rindge.

To describe Jim’s life would take an entire book, but let it be said that Jim will not be forgotten by the hundreds of people he has touched in so many ways. From his early years as an Eagle Scout till about 2 weeks before he died, he gave of himself to whoever needed help. One of his favorite sayings was “don’t forget where you came from” and always help those who need help, no matter who they are.

He loved Peterborough. His license plate read LUVPBRO. He loved the history, the people, riding around and reminiscing about what was. But he also was a innovator for new and different things to make Peterborough an even better town. He was not opposed to change.

Some of his achievements include starting the Monadnock Worksource in the middle l960s, being an active Peterborough fireman for over 50 years, serving as a chairman of the Salvation Army Unit for Our Town, starting The Sunshine Fund to help local folks with gas cards, food, rides, auto repairs, college books, whatever was needed to happen to help those in need.

Some of the Honors bestowed on him include: Paul Harris Fellow, Monadnock Region Citizen of the Year, St. Florian Fire Fighter of the Year, Keene State College Alumni Achievement Award, Business Leader of the Year, Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, and in May 2016, The Governor Walter Peterson Medal.

Jim’s first job was teaching in Dublin at the elementary school. At the end of the first year, he was promoted to Principal AND 5/6 teacher in Temple School. There he flourished as an advocate for children to succeed no matter what! School readiness was his biggest topic and he published his first book I HATE SCHOOL. Since then he has written or co-written over 30 books, his latest just being released on GRIT.

Jim and Lil started a small conference/seminar business in their home called Jim Grant Associates in l985. On some days there were 12 to 15 people working there. The joke was if the building inspector stopped, everyone grab a mop or broom and start to clean! When JGA grew too rapidly to stay in their home, the company moved to the plaza in North Peterborough, and the name changed to Society for Developmental Education. This company also grew rapidly and it was again moved to South Peterborough as Staff Development for Educators, which at one time employed over 150 persons. Jim worked constantly on new and innovative ideas for promoting school success. He and Lillian traveled to every state in the US and many countries abroad spreading the message: STOP SCHOOL FAILURE. One of the conferences held yearly draws over 6,500 teachers and educators from all over the country and world. It was held last week in Las Vegas with 6,200 in attendance. That was the first one Jim ever missed.

Jim lived a very full life and was at peace with death. He always said what a ride, and it’s now over for me. I’m ready.

Jim will be remembered at calling hours on August 5 from 3 to 8 pm at Jellison Funeral Home in Peterborough. A Memorial service will be held August 6 at 11 am at the Unitarian Church on Main Street in Peterborough.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be sent to The Sunshine Fund, P O Box 577, Peterborough, 03458 OR Peterborough Fire Rescue, P O Box 244, Peterborough, NH 03458. Also per Jim, he asks that you do something nice for someone EVERY day of your life, from today forward.

DEATH ANNOUNCEMENT

It is with deep sadness that Peterborough Fire Rescue announce the non-duty related passing of Firefighter Jim Grant. Firefighter Grant was a 51 year active uniformed-member of PFR.Additional details and arrangements will be announced in the near future. Please keep the entire Grant family in your thoughts. Rest in Peace. Jim Grant?

RADIO TRAINING CLASS

SOUTHWESTERN NH DISTRICT FIRE MUTUAL AID WILL BE CONDUCTING A TRAINING SESSION ABOUT FIRE MUTUAL AID AND PROPER RADIO PROCEDURES AT THE HINSDALE FIRE STATION ON DEPOT STREET ON AUGUST 2ND AT 1800 HOURS.ALL AREA DEPARTMENTS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND.

DEATH ANNOUNCEMENT

FIRE DEPARTMENT CITY OF KEENE NEW HAMPSHIRE

MEMORANDUM

To: All Personnel

From: Mark Howard, Fire Chief

Subject: Death Announcement of Captain Francis J. Driscoll Jr. - Retired

Date: July 18, 2016

It is with regret the Chief of the Department announces the death of Captain Francis “Frank” Driscoll Jr. - Retired.

Captain Driscoll started as an Auxiliary Member of the Department in 1964. On April 4, 1966 he was appointed as a Career Firefighter. Promoted to Lieutenant on July 5, 1976 and later promoted to Captain on December 16, 1979. Capt. Driscoll retired on December 29, 1984 with 20 years of service to the department and the City.

The family has announced there will be a graveside service on Monday July 25, 2016 at 1000 hours. The service will be at the East Westmoreland Cemetery located on Route 12 in East Westmoreland NH. All Keene Fire Department personnel attending should meet at the Central Fire Station at 0900 hours on Monday in Class “A” uniform.

The calling hours are going to be Sunday July 24, 2016 from 1600 hours to 1900 hours at the Foley Funeral Home located on Court St. in Keene. All Fire Department personnel attending should meet at the Central Station at 1600 hours in Class “A” Uniform.

Our condolences to his wife Anne and the entire Driscoll family.

Frank also served as a dispatcher for Fire Mutual Aid in the early 1960's.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Lt. David Whipple (Dispatcher 1) for 29 years of dedicated service to Fire Mutual Aid. With 29 years, Lt. Whipple has the most number of years of any employee here who still works the board dispatching calls. He works 48 hours a week doing shift work; working days and nights. Quite an accomplishment in the public safety dispatch field.